iN PHOTOS: Tiny sparrows use big tactics to survive and thrive

More than twenty species of sparrow can be found in the Thompson-Okanagan at different times of the year, and while the songbirds are tiny and not the most bedazzling in colour, they have fascinating behaviours.

Due to their small size, sparrows are vulnerable prey for many larger animals, however, they use adaptability and intelligence to thrive in urban and rural habitats across the world.

The birds have impressive memories with a higher level of cognition than many bird species with bigger brains, according to birdful.org.

Known to be highly sociable, sparrows have evolved to work in flocks to keep warm, fend off predators, and safely migrate long distance between breeding and wintering grounds every spring and fall.

Different sparrow species flock together to keep more eyes on the lookout for predators, coordinating flock movements using complex vocalizations which include cheeps for staying in contact and alarm calls for signalling danger.

The flocks will attack a predator as a group, or fly low over the ground together to escape one. A common tactic for sparrows is pretending to have a broken wing to lure predators away from nests.

Sparrows are also able to remember food locations from the previous year and copy other birds’ strategies for finding food. They can use tools like twigs to get seeds and learn how to avoid traps and poisonous food.

Some species of sparrow, like the house sparrow, stick around all year while most migrate south for the winter. During the spring and summer, the energetic birds can be observed courting, building nests in trees and sheltered spots, and raising young.

The birds feast on seeds and insects and are often at backyard feeders. They are prolific vocalizers and rigorous about regular bathing in water or dust.  

Commonly feathered in dull colours as a camouflage tactic, the busy birds can be difficult to spot and photograph, but once zoomed in, one can see the distinct patterns of each species’ plumage.

Thompson-Okanagan wildlife photographers captured numerous sparrow species in the region in recent months.